It wasn’t long after the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Corey Seager No. 18 overall in the 2012 Draft that talk began of an eventual move to third base. Although he was drafted as a shortstop, his 6’4 stature doesn’t fit the mold of a middle infielder.
Last season, Seager played 19 games at third base during time spent with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. It was his most extensive experience at the position during his young professional career.
However, that wasn’t to be viewed as indication the Dodgers were on the brink of moving Seager to the hot corner. Shortly after being hired as president of baseball operations in October 2014, Andrew Friedman traveled to Arizona to watch one of the organization’s top prospects play.
The head of the Dodgers’ front office said he didn’t see any reason or need to move Seager off his natural position.
The 22-year-old has since become a National League Rookie of the Year and MVP candidate, and on Tuesday appeared in his first All-Star Game. Seager said recently the questions over whether he could remain at shortstop served as fuel, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“Since the day I signed, I’ve been told I’d move to third base,” Seager said. “It’s always been, not a chip on my shoulder, but the drive. They haven’t seen you play and already you’re getting written off. Now that it’s there, I can celebrate that hard work.”
Seager’s election to the All-Star Game comes with additional merit as he was voted in by his peers. On top of that factor, Seager received the most votes amongst shortstops from Major League players.
Last spring, veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins argued Seager’s height worked in his favor, and former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly compared the then-prospect to Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. On top of carrying the Dodgers’ offense, Seager has played a steady shortstop.
He ranks sixth among Major-League shortstops with a 5.8 UZR and 9.7 DEF (fielding runs and positional adjustment). Though, Seager doesn’t grade out well in defensive runs saved, as his -1 mark is 13th-best in the Majors.
